After falling in love with Edinburgh after her first interview, Kathryn was set on jewellery at ECA. The programme enabled Kathryn to refine her skills as well as utilising new materials and methods such as wax carving. Since leaving university, Kathryn’s work has found social media fame with her iconic animal ‘nose’ rings selling out in minutes.

Why ECA?

Living in the city of Edinburgh really appealed to me and I found out the University of Edinburgh was excellent for sporting opportunities as well as degrees. The Jewellery & Silversmithing course at ECA really stood out to me amongst similar university courses elsewhere. After attending the interview stage at ECA, I very much fell in love with the course and city, I hoped that I would get a place to study there. I understood it was a small course and spaces were limited so when I got the notification through that I had been accepted I was delighted. I knew instantly that’s the university for me.  

Tell us about your time at ECA

There were 12 people in my jewellery and silversmithing class and I was direct entry into second year. During second and third year, we undertook a lot of projects, ranging from a few weeks to a few months at a time. They explored lots of different aspects of jewellery and Silversmithing from learning how to bezel set a ring to making a bowl and spoon. 

Two particular projects that I enjoyed the most were working with CAD and wax carving. I designed my first ever jewellery collection (called the Causeway Collection) during this project using CAD, which I still make and sell today. 

I was also introduced to wax carving in second year where I wax carved a sports medal and then cast it in bronze. I loved it so much that I then focused heavily on wax carving and casting in fourth year. Fourth year was a yearlong project where I chose to focus my pieces around my Dad’s job on my family’s farm. I thoroughly enjoyed my final year as I got to hone in on my favourite techniques and skills of wax carving, casting, tool making, patination and also experimenting with different materials from the farm. The skills that I learned during this year are the skills that I have continued to develop since leaving university. Wax carving is my favourite skill and it’s how I create my best-selling rings today.

Tell us about your experiences since graduating

ECA informed me well with possible career opportunities after university. When I graduated, I knew I wanted to travel so I moved back home to Northern Ireland to save up. I also began to slowly set up my own little studio at home, because I knew I wanted to continue designing and making jewellery. ECA provided me with the wide range of skills to become a jeweller, so I continued to practice those skills developing my ideas further.

In 2020, my small jewellery business blew up on social media, meaning I could make jewellery as a full-time career from February 2021 onwards. Ever since then, I have continued to design and make jewellery, shipping my pieces globally.

Videos of myself making my most recent collection of Nose Rings, have gained millions of views across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. For almost two years now, my Nose Ring Collection has sold out in minutes with every restock that I do. Reaching this point in my career is still very much a 'pinch me moment' and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to do what I love as a full-time career.

This year, I received business training with the Goldsmiths Centre in London and my Nose Rings are going to be in the ‘Spotlighting’ exhibition in early 2024. ECA prepared me well for taking part in exhibitions. This is my first exhibition since leaving university and I'm so looking forward to it!

Alumni wisdom

To anyone entering first year, attend as many jewellery events as you can. Whether that be listening to an independent jeweller's presentation of their career or going to visit Elements Festival in Edinburgh, try your best to attend as much as you can during your time at ECA. Also, study hard but enjoy ‘uni life’ and what Edinburgh has to offer too!